Media Dam and Media Path for an Imaging Device

Abstract

A media dam for a media path of an imaging device along which a media sheet traverses according to one example embodiment includes a plurality of inclined rib members. The rib members form a contact surface for engaging and deflecting the media sheet along the media path. The contact surface has a top edge that includes at least one sloped portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A media dam for a media path of an imaging device along which a media sheet traverses, comprising:
 a plurality of inclined rib members forming a contact surface for engaging and deflecting the media sheet along the media path, the contact surface having a top edge that includes at least one sloped portion.   
     
     
         2 . The media dam of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of rib members consecutively increase in height. 
     
     
         3 . The media dam of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the plurality of rib members having a longitudinally sloped top surface. 
     
     
         4 . The media dam of  claim 1 , wherein the top edge of the contact surface is sloped across a length of the contact surface. 
     
     
         5 . The media dam of  claim 1 , wherein the top edge of the contact surface slopes upward from a first end of the contact surface to a second end of the contact surface. 
     
     
         6 . The media dam of  claim 1 , wherein the top edge of the contact surface slopes upward from each of a first end and a second end of the contact surface to a point between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         7 . The media dam of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one gap between two of the plurality of rib members having a width that is less than 8 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The media dam of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the plurality of rib members having a width that is greater than 5.9 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The media dam of  claim 1 , wherein a height difference between a low point of the top edge of the contact surface and a high point of the top edge of the contact surface is at least about 12 mm. 
     
     
         10 . A media path for an imaging device along which a media sheet traverses, comprising:
 a media tray having a media storage location for storing a stack of media sheets;   an inclined media dam adjacent to the media storage location having at least one member forming a contact surface for engaging and deflecting a media sheet from the media storage location into the media path, the contact surface having a first height at a first location and a second height at a second location different from the first height; and   a media guide downstream and spaced away from the media dam such that the media sheet transitions from the media dam to the media guide as the media sheet traverses the media path.   
     
     
         11 . The media path of  claim 10 , further comprising the contact surface having a top edge that includes at least one sloped portion. 
     
     
         12 . The media path of  claim 11 , wherein the top edge is sloped across a length of the contact surface. 
     
     
         13 . The media path of  claim 11 , wherein the top edge slopes upward from each of a first end and a second end of the contact surface to a point between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         14 . The media path of  claim 10 , further comprising the contact surface having a top edge that is not substantially parallel with a trailing edge of the media sheet as it transitions from the media dam to the media guide. 
     
     
         15 . The media path of  claim 10 , wherein at least some of the plurality of members consecutively increase in height. 
     
     
         16 . The media path of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one member includes a longitudinally sloped top surface. 
     
     
         17 . A media path for an imaging device along which a media sheet traverses, comprising:
 a media dam having a contact surface for engaging and deflecting the media sheet along the media path, the media dam being dimensioned such that a time at which a first point of a trailing edge of the media sheet disengages from the contact surface is different from a time at which a second point of the trailing edge of the media sheet disengages from the contact surface.   
     
     
         18 . The media path of  claim 17 , further comprising the contact surface having an edge on a downstream side of the contact surface that includes at least one sloped portion. 
     
     
         19 . The media path of  claim 17 , further comprising the contact surface having an edge on a downstream side of the contact surface that is not substantially parallel with the trailing edge of the media sheet as it disengages from the media dam. 
     
     
         20 . The media path of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a media tray having a media storage location for storing a stack of media sheets, the media dam being disposed adjacent to the media storage location for directing a media sheet from the media storage location into the media path; and   a media guide downstream and spaced away from the media dam such that the media sheet transitions from the media dam to the media guide as the media sheet traverses the media path.